n o t e f r o m p r e s i d e n t d a v ealabamahistoricalradiosociety.org/docs/newsletter january...
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January 2018 Page 1
January 2018
N O T E F R O M P R E S I D E N T D A V E
Greetings to the membership for the New Year!
Thank you for your vote of confidence to serve as President. Thanks to Tom for a great job during his term. I am expecting a great 2018 and will need everyone's input and support.
A little about myself: I grew up in the Western area of Birmingham (Wylam) and enjoyed playing with old radios more than toys. I operated a small radio repair shop while in grade school. I attended Ensley High School, studying radio and electricity shop, working half a day at Sears Roebuck Radio Shop in my senior year.
I attended the University of Alabama studying Electrical Engineering for two years, but did not like it. I went back to Sears for one more year and then worked at various places in electrical maintenance. I worked at Continental Can as Chief Electrician for 10 years. I continued to repair radios and TVs part time. In 1979, I started an electrical business, Johnelec, Inc., to perform industrial and commercial electrical work.
In 1989, I, along with Don Kresge, Dave Cisco and several others, founded the Alabama Historical Radio Society, Inc. Today, I continue to operate Johnelec, Inc. and volunteer with the Radio Society.
President Dave (205) 999-7178 [email protected]
President Dave Johnson
January 2018 Page 2
N O T E F R O M I M M E D I A T E P A S T P R E S I D E N T T O M K I L L I A N
I have served as President since April 2013 and have published 56 AHRS Newsletters since then. Many members have shared articles in these newsletters, including Dee Haynes, Larry Lokey and Robert Frye. The one constant throughout this time has been our volunteer editor, Patsy Desaulniers, over in Conway Arkansas. She has done an excellent job, using her magic to clean up our English, polish our stories, edit and resize the many pictures I use in each newsletter and otherwise, make the newsletters more interesting! She has indicated a willingness to continue editing the newsletter for two more years. Let's all hope she is successful, maintains her good health and continues her good work!
Dave Johnson has asked me to continue writing the monthly newsletter and I have agreed to write a few more. We would like to bring in some new talent to take over this important communication tool. Several things took place in December, including the Annual Meeting where new officers and three new Board members were elected by acclamation. The officers elected were: President; Dave Johnson, Vice-President; Steven Westbrook, Treasurer; Mike Woodruff and Recording Secretary; Dee Haynes. The Directors elected were Charles McCrary, John Outland and Dave Cisco.
Also, in December we held a radio auction for members. The auction raised more than $400 in donations for the Society.
Membership radio auction in progress
The Christmas Party was held the last Thursday night in December at the Shop. I have included several pictures from the party.
January 2018 Page 3
Everyone is ready to get to the buffet table.
More members and guests ready to eat.
January 2018 Page 4
The buffet is now open for business.
Drawing for door prizes at the Christmas Party
January 2018 Page 5
Ron Studdard (on the left) with his cathedral radio door prize
Don Letchman with his wooden table top radio door prize.
January 2018 Page 6
Ray Giles finishes cleanup of the buffet table, ready for old radios to return.
The Birmingham Amateur Radio Club (BARC) will present the 2018 Birmingham Hamfest on Friday, March 2, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturday, March 3, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. In years past, the Alabama Historical Radio Society has taken a major role in this event. We usually have 10 tables for historical radio displays, 10 tables for sale of miscellaneous radios, test equipment, handbooks, reference books, ham magazines and produce a forum for the attendees at the Hamfest. This year, we are asking our members for more participation in preparation and presentation of our displays, sales and forum. We have too many members to continue to burden the same handful of members to put on this event.
2017 Birmingham Ham Fest Historical Display
Radio class was held on January 6 and Instructor, Joe Minor, continued to detail the operation of the All American Five radio. The next radio class is set for February 3 at the Shop in Birmingham, beginning at 9 a.m. Instructor Joe Minor will continue the circuit analysis of the All American Five radio.
The next Monday night meeting will be on January 22, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Shop. After a brief business meeting, the program will be presented by Michael Spanos on the History of Lightbulbs.
January 2018 Page 7
Street Light in my front yard in mid-December Snow Storm in Birmingham
Thank you for your continued support of the Alabama Historical Radio Society. 2018 dues are now due.
Immediate Past President Tom 205-936-5455 [email protected]
January 2018 Page 8
O L D T I M E R A D I O B I T S
I grew up with radio. We did not get a TV till I was well into my high school years. I have fond memories of my early childhood and looking into the back of our old console radio and seeing the glowing vacuum tubes. I thought this must be where the characters in my favorite radio shows lived, the Lone Ranger, Fibber McGee and Molly, Jack Benny Show, to name a few. This was back in the 1940’s. As I grew older and was out in the work-a-day world, I found myself listening to the CBS Radio Mystery Theater on long drives at night, a last-ditch effort by CBS to revive the old shows. Supposedly radio drama ceased to exist after the 1960’s and 70’s. BUT, I’ve found a new source of more modern radio comedy and drama in British radio. I have always been fond of British comedy, and I have a fairly large collection of British TV shows that I watch almost daily. One of these shows was “Dad’s Army,” a comedy TV show about the Home Guard over in England during WWII. A little research about the home guard on Wiki, and you will learn about the men too old for service in the military or young men who were not eligible for the draft. The home guard gave these men a chance to help fight the Germans in WWII from their home town. The show was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and broadcast on the BBC from 1968 to 1977 (quote from Wikipedia). The first few episodes were not received very well, but later became one of the British TV viewers favorite shows. In fact, the show was so successful that they even made a radio show using the same actors from the TV show. So, now when I retire to my single bed in my mini-man cave, I reach over and tap a button on my bedside WIFI radio and listen to Dad’s Army. There are other British Comedy shows on the same channel, so I might listen to “Brothers in Law” and I’m still waiting for the radio adaptation of “Yes Minister” another favorite TV comedy. I listen to these shows around 10:30 P.M. or so on the BBC channel on my WIFI radio, after which I drop off to sleep. (hopefully) So, what do I do in the afternoon around 15:00 hours CST? I tune in to 1710 Antioch, broadcasting from near the state line between Illinois and Wisconsin; however, I just tune in on my WIFI radio and there it is. Here is where I hear one of the radio serials like Superman, Magic Island, or Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police. All these shows are aimed at the juvenile audience. Don’t tell anybody but I am working on my second childhood. What if you don’t care for old radio shows? Then, how about some Big Band music from the 30’s and 40’s? In my opinion, one of the best shows for listening to Big Band is "The Original Big Band Showcase" with Denny Farrell. This show can be found on your WIFI radio on “The 1920’s Radio Network”. Mr. Farrell, with his deep booming broadcast voice, announces each record with a thorough description of the artist and the band. The show is one hour long but, the network usually repeats it maybe a couple of times each day. Sounds like I’m advertising for a WIFI radio. Well, go out and buy one. You will find your radio listening preference no matter what it is or what country you want to hear. And there is no charge to listen. However, you may get an occasional request for a donation, but that is up to you. Well, Thanks for tuning in. Hope to see you sometime on the old radio dial. This is Dee Haynes filling in for Larry Lokey so that he can take the month of January off.
January 2018 Page 9
We meet every Saturday (unless a Holiday weekend) at 9:00 a.m., at the one-story AHRS Shop at the corner of 8th Avenue North and 18th Street, (1801 8th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203). Birmingham, AL 35203). Use the rear (Southeast) entrance.
The Shop is open on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. until around 11:30 a.m. when we go to Marilyn's Deli and Dog for lunch next door. Note that parking can be a problem on Tuesdays, so you may have to find street parking occasionally.
We meet on the fourth Monday night of each month, too, at 6:00 p.m. Please come join us!
One more great benefit from becoming a member of AHRS--free Electronic classes!
Classes are taught the first Saturday of each month (except when something special is
taking place, then we agree on what Saturday).
We start from the beginning Ohms Law, inductors, resistor and Capacitors color codes,
as well as what each component does within the radio circuits. We also teach how to use
test equipment used in the repairing of radios. We teach troubleshooting radio troubles,
as well as how to read a radio diagram. There are coil winding classes, and one-on-one
repair help. Come join these classes!
S A T U R D A Y M E E T I N G S
S H O P O N T U E S D A Y S
R E G U L A R M E E T I N G S
F R E E E L E C T R O N I C S C L A S S E S
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Membership dues are $25 a year, payable beginning in January. If you have questions about your dues, you can contact Treasurer Mike Woodruff at 205-823-7204. Dues can be mailed to AHRS @ P.O. Box 131418, Birmingham AL 35213.
O F F I C E R S
President – Dave Johnson (205) 999—7178 [email protected] Vice President – Steven Westbrook 205-305-0679 [email protected] Recording Secretary – Dee Haynes 205-841-4360 [email protected] Treasurer – Mike Woodruff 205-823-7204 [email protected]
Member and Instructor – Robert Frye 205-482-0562 [email protected] Web site – Bob Lovell [email protected] Web Address: http://alhrs.org E-mail Address: [email protected] Newsletter – Patsy Desaulniers [email protected]
01/26/2018 | Delta Division Convention (Capital City Hamfest) Location: Jackson, MS Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Jackson Amateur Radio Club Website: http://hamfest.msham.org
03/24/2018 | Ides of March Hamfest Location: Union City, TN Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Reelfoot Amateur Radio Club Website: http://reelfootarc.com
10/20/2018 | Tennessee State Convention (Hamfest Chattanooga 2018) Location: East Ridge, TN Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club Website: http://www.w4am.net
More: Southeastern hamfests; WA7BNM Contest Calendar; Contest Corral; QRP Contests; State QSO parties; Special Event Stations; North America SOTA events; DX Bulletins
D U E S I N F O R M A T I O N
2018 H A M F E S T A N D S W A P S C H E D U L E